Gran Teatre del Liceu
Talk about a dramatic affair! I finished a conference last month in Barcelona, Spain, and one of the highlights for me was the gala dinner. Why? Because it was at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, also known as the Liceu Opera House, on the popular boulevard Ramblas in downtown Barcelona. This building is gorgeous, the decor is a combination of Versailles and the Modern Museum of Art - there's a little something for everyone.
But what I needed was a space that was hospitable, show off its dramatic arts and yet still be functional for business presentations. I'm happy to say the Liceu accomplishes all of that.
Foyer Room
Our gala banquet was held in the Liceu's Foyer Room - a large open space with a bar along one side. On the mezzanine there are two to three small balconies overlooking the space (one that is usually reserved for the audio visual team. For our dinner, the bar was covered with pipe and drape, and we had two screens showing (although I heard you could have a third central screen shown in the middle as well). Because we planned to have entertainment, you'll see on the second picture below we created a small stage for the piano, as well as a mic and podium for our presenters. I always ask what the capabilities are for a space, even if I don't end up using it. Just because it may not be necessary for my event, doesn't mean it can't be used for my colleagues' event.
Food by Arcs Catering
Food, to me, is everything. I know it's odd to say, but if people remember that the food is good, they will most likely think positively of the venue. Well, unless it's the Liceu. Then you just expect the food to be perfect. And it was. I learned that Arcs Catering, of the Group Serhs, is the only catering vendor of the Liceu and they offer dishes of the highest caliber. If you search them on the web, they have an impressive resume of clients. I loved everything they served this evening!
Opera Entertainment
How could we be in an opera house and not experience any opera? Accompanied simply and beautifully by a pianist, these two opera singers (to show each one's range) brought a smile to everyone in the room. Even if you knew nothing about the opera, you were impressed purely by talent and beautiful music. The Liceu can arrange such performances for any private event.
Auditorium Tour
After dinner, we offered our guests a quick view of the Auditorium where our docent gave us a history lesson on the Liceu. It is still an active theater and it has been maintained gorgeously, but of course with a few modern upgrades. If you attend an opera here, you cannot help but be brought back in time to what it was like in the old world. I learned that night that the balconettes close to the stage where not the best views of the stage, but the best views to be seen by other wealthy members of the audience.
The Mirror Hall
Our event was too large to be placed in this hall, but I would love to have a formal dinner in this room. And when I say formal, I mean all the men should wear tuxedos and the women should wear gowns to match the elegance of this room. I can see a four piece string quartet greeting a guest as the entrance as a server offers a champagne flute upon arrival. With mirrors all around, it's a room for being seen and being talked about. But alas, I don't think it can fit more than fifty people (far from my 200 person gala banquet downstairs).
